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Video: Community leader: Residents live in fear

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>>>as anne just mentioned this oil is devastating people who live along the
gulf coast
among them residents of
plaquemines parish
. billy nungesser is the
parish president
. i know you're hearing it from the people who live in that parish. give me the sense of the range of emotions you're hearing on a daily basis.

>>it's fear. it's disgust. it's -- you know, people in
plaquemines parish
aren't used to sitting around and waiting. we prepare for the worst and hope for the best. and we just don't see the efforts out there, number one. we told them it would come ashore. they said, no, it will be a few tar balls. it's come ashore. they're not equipped. there's no plan in place. the leadership is really lacking from all aspects of the
coast guard
and
bp
. seven skimmer boats in plack
plaquemines parish
as you see it takes them four or five days to get out there. it's just unacceptable. the people are disgusted, frustrated, as i am. and putting more troops on the ground is not the answer. we need a leader to step up and take charge and build this berm out there that the keep most of the oil out.

>>mr. nungesser, would you say the frustration level is equal or equally shared between the
federal government
and
bp
or are the people in that area blaming one over the other?

>>well, i think we're pointing the finger at both and they keep pointing the finger at each other. and the
coast guard
ultimately has the decision. they can direct
bp
to do anything. had they directed them to pay and build this berm
30 days
ago, we would have over 20 miles of berm out the water receiving this oil on the beach. it's easy to clean it up off the beaches. you won't clean it up out of the marshes where it's destroying the habitat for the pelicans and all the wildlife in louisiana. it will destroy it for many years. and we told them that. it's now coming ashore. they need to admit they made a mistake, take a step back and let's get working out there, pull all stops out to protect our coastline. but they're still pointing the finger. more people on the ground is not the answer. organization, the equipment and building that berm to protect our coastline is the answer. we need to pull out all stops.

>>we've got the
memorial day weekend
fast approaching here, mr. nungesser. obviously the traditional start to the tourism season. what impact are you expecting?

>>all the tournaments, all the big fishing tournaments are canceled. all the festivals in this area have been canceled. we have no tourism. all we have is the workers here that are working on this spill. and it's pretty devastating. and we're talking about long, long-lasting effects in these marshlands. i'm so disappointed they won't spend $300 million to build a
barrier island
to protect us but i heard yesterday
bp
put up $500 million to check and research and study what's going to happen after the fact. we're not going to need that money because there's not going to be much left here to study. put that money up front. let's save the marsh while we still have a chance. we lost the battle. we haven't lost the war. it's time for a true leader to step up and let's make something happen.

>>all right.
plaquemines parish
president billy nungesser. thank you for your time and our thoughts are with all of the good folks in your parish.

WASHINGTON — Staff members at an agency that oversees offshore drilling accepted tickets to sports events, lunches and other gifts from oil and gas companies and used government computers to view pornography, according to an Interior Department report alleging a culture of cronyism between regulators and the industry.

In at least one case, an inspector for the Minerals Management Service admitted using crystal methamphetamine and said he might have been under the influence of the drug the next day at work, according to the report by the acting inspector general of the Interior Department.

The report cites a variety of violations of federal regulations and ethics rules at the agency's Louisiana office. Previous inspector general investigations have focused on inappropriate behavior by the royalty-collection staff in the agency's Denver office.

The report adds to the climate of frustration and criticism facing the Obama administration in the monthlong oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, although it covers actions before the spill. Millions of gallons of oil are gushing into the Gulf, endangering wildlife and the livelihoods of fishermen, as scrutiny intensifies on a lax regulatory climate.

The report began as a routine investigation, the acting inspector general, Mary Kendall, said in a cover letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, whose department includes the agency.

"Unfortunately, given the events of April 20 of this year, this report had become anything but routine, and I feel compelled to release it now," she wrote.

Her biggest concern is the ease with which minerals agency employees move between industry and government, Kendall said. While no specifics were included in the report, "we discovered that the individuals involved in the fraternizing and gift exchange — both government and industry — have often known one another since childhood," Kendall said.

The report follows a 2007 investigation that revealed what then-Inspector General Earl Devaney called a "culture of ethical failure" and conflicts of interest at the minerals agency.

'Deeply disturbing'Salazar called the latest report "deeply disturbing" and said it highlights the need for changes he has proposed, including a plan to abolish the minerals agency and replace it with three new entities.

The report "is further evidence of the cozy relationship between some elements of MMS and the oil and gas industry," Salazar said Tuesday. "I appreciate and fully support the inspector general's strong work to root out the bad apples in MMS."

Salazar said several employees cited in the report have resigned, were fired or were referred for prosecution. Actions may be taken against others as warranted, he said.

Salazar said he has asked Kendall to expand her investigation to look into agency actions since he took office in January 2009.

BP said Tuesday it is briefing federal authorities on the first results of its internal investigation into the accident that started with an oil rig explosion April 20, killing 11, and has turned into an environmental disaster.

The oil company said it is focusing on the blowout preventer — a massive piece of machinery that sits atop the well head and is supposed to act as a safety device of last resort — as well as the cementing and casing of the well head.

White House energy adviser Carol Browner said that BP is complying with the government's request to use less of a toxic dispersant in fighting the spill, but alternative dispersants aren't readily available.

Salazar last week proposed eliminating the Minerals Management Service and replacing it with two bureaus and a revenue collection office. The name Minerals Management Service would no longer exist.

Members of Congress and President Barack Obama have criticized what they call the cozy relationship between regulators and oil companies and have vowed to reform MMS, which both regulates the industry and collects billions in royalties from it.

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